Shootout at Lokhandwala

In some ways, "Shootout at Lokhandwala" is typical of many Bollywood films. Even thought it's about gangsters and terrorists, these killers take time out for huge song and dance numbers! I really don't think these worked very well considering the subject matter in this film. However, in another way the movie is very unusual. It is one of the most violent Indian films I have seen--with a few particularly grisly deaths (such as seeing a close up of a woman being run over). In this sense, it certainly isn't typical!

The film is based on actual real life events--so to some degree it had to be violent. After all, the thugs were horrible and violent people--there's no denying that. And, the ultimate showdown between them and the police DID result in a long standoff during which more than 1500 shots were fired! So, making it non-violent wouldn't have worked...though the film doesn't shy away from violence in the least. It's not a film to show small kids, that's for sure.

As for the quality of the film, it's quite nice. The acting is fine and it was unusual to see Amitabh Bachchan playing a cop who is at times difficult to like. But the film, despite being exciting and well acted does occasionally degenerate into macho theatrics-- especially during the big finale--though I must admit that the cigarette scene and the coat rack was amazingly cool. Overall, it's a film best for folks who want a lot of action and killing. It might seem a strange film to folks outside India, as its end justifying the means angle is unusual to say the least.

The star-cast is awesome. Which is one major factor for the success of such movies. All the big and bad boys of Indian cinema with a background image of guns hurling "dirty harry" actalikes. Shoot to kill seems apt for a frequently used dialouge by Sanjay Dutt who appears absolutely stunning, specially to most women with that over masculine, overflowing testrostrone attitude of his and his typical walk with a swagger makes certain women feel week in the knees.

Abhishek though has a smaller role.. but doesn't diasppoint. Viviek (i guess thats how he spells it) could have done a little better with the same company attitude being copy pasted.

Rohit, shabbir, Tussher (or whatever the spelling is) have done a fair job. Shetty was at his best cop performance and Salmans brother should take body building as a profession than acting. Amitabh bachchan has a role... or does he? but i guess the big guy does a good job even at that little role he had in the movie as well...

He is the Big B... and he proves it again and again.

Overall a nice movie... lot of guns... lot of attitude... should watch once...

Shoot Out at Lokhandwala (2007)

Director: Apoorva Lakhia Writers: Apoorva Lakhia

Suresh Nair

Shoot Out At Lokhandwala , directed by Apporva Lakhia , seems to be perfectly successful in :

a) Casting big names in Bollywood Film Industry(Amitab &Abhishek, duo, Sunil Shetty, Sanjay Dutt, Neha Dhupia, Arbaz Khan, Tushar Kapoor, Vivek Oberio, Rohit Roy ….. IS ANY ONE STILL LEFT OUT in BOOLY WOOD after this???

b) Violence show c) Shoot out and police firing

Unfortunately what it missed out perhaps completely is

a) Any story base b) Music c) Character roles d) Simple movie making common sense & Logic e) Justification of any role to anyone

Its up to the pity audience what they prefer to see at last???

This film right from the beginning tries to project that entire story is based on some real fact, though its begin with the old Sikh Terrorism in Punjab, still the director completely missed out to carry the theme till the end…. From terrorism by Punjab extremist to cheap road side Mumbai Supari killing.. all seems to be mixed and jumbled out completely the Apporva Lakhia, perhaps he and his team of script writer really never read and re-checked their own script even once ! all the whole they may be too busy with the unsuccessful effort to bring all big stars together rather than making the movie of any sense at all. Its really funny when it between he tries to show the incident and their description with year and dates etc.. ! those useless details can easily be omitted and the story line may be made more worth .

Its crazy that Abhishek Bacchant tries to fight the AK47 carrying Sikh Terrorist with a single barrel pistol !!! and the poor chap gets killed! What the director wanted to prove??? And he does proves in the entire movie that in spite of full battalion of forces and police officers, with all the man-power and all, the ultimate decision is made again and again by the 1960 style hand to hand fighting !!!!!!! dam crazy nonsense !!

The DCP and ACP of police has to go all by themselves to the culprits and fight with their hand ! whats the rest of the police force doing then??? And Sanjay Dutt enters the hideout in the last scene to make the fight , as if he is going to meet his waiting girl-friend !! instead of re-checking his (again note) Pistol, he sets his hair OK ! and enters the hideout !!! Is that anything worst direction than these???

The Mumbai don who claims huge amounts as Supari from each business tycoons don't have even a cell phone??? Can you believe this,, so at the last scene the director makes each of the gang member to talk to their family using a land phone!!!! And that too the connection of the phone line is intact even when he showed about 5-10 minutes of severe shooting in that house by the Police just before that!!! Come-on Apoorva ! this is real kiddish!!!

And so on , one after another plots are all severely faulty with absolutely no logic and common sense. Underworld kingpin Vivek Oberoi mom is so poor(even though her son makes so much money from Supari) that she was shown in ragged and she need to go all the way to a public booth to call her son???

Amitabh was as usual over acted , and was really painful. Director in-between tried to justify the sentiments of the killers and tried to project them with humane value.. please if you don't know to direct films, that's your problems but please don't convey wrong message at all to the society. When Vivek Oberoi and Tushar Kapoor(Tussar was an absolute bogus selection for that role , he is too chocolate looking for that role!!) comes and threatens the colony peoples in one scene , then while going back they just for nothing , just like that shoots 2-3 innocent peoples , just for making some fear !! if that's is justified , what's the point in showing their sentiments at the end??

The movie in a nutshell is absolutely scrape, the name of Lokhandwala shooting is absolutely misnomer with the entire movie scenes. Police force in India are shown to carry old rifles ! not even a AK47 was shown by even one officers!! And hand to hand fighting seems to be the ultimate decisive factor for the game !! There is no script at all ! to comment , and music doesn't exist. Acting was just too ordinary and many a place useless and misfit. There is no need to show the rich Urdu verse spoken Arbazz Khan trying to make Sunil Shetty make understand to propose someone! It's NOT NEEDED at all.Macho man Sunil Shetty cannot able to overcome the slim and medium built Tushar Kappoor! Gangsters visit the home of the police officers and threaten their families and just go away even when they know that these same officers are behind them! DOES THAT HAPPENS IN REALITY !! what Apoorva wants to show! How novel and great at those underworld peoples!!

Anyway this film is an ideal example of " how worst can a film be made" which in spite of all great Bollywood actors and actress doesn't even has anything to give.. no message no lesson, no scene, no justification, no truth, no music and sure NO LOGIC and worst direction.

Please don't make movies like this, there are better job that can be done, and all you need is to THINK , of course using your BRAIN!!

Sanju Baba Rocks. Audience Shoked.

Perfect acting by every actor. Vivek has showed great energy in the movie.

So they are making a sequel & I watched the prequel first to have that flow. I am impressed by Apoorva Lakhia & Sanjay Gupta for creating a very good thriller plot. Do not listen to these IMDb board members, they seriously despise Bollywood movies.

Set in the 90s, the drama involving gangsters & Mumbai Police is a very fine watch and when it reaches the crescendo, the enjoyment triples. Performances are great by the whole cast & specially by Vivek Oberoi. Music is chunky & screenplay is amazing with special mention to the scene where it all the gangsters are involved with different policemen. Simply superb!

If you are a die-hard action fan, go for it, because this one has cylinder explosions, gun fires & RPG.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? NO

Profanity: Strong | Sex: No | Nudity: Mild | Violence: Infinity | Gore: Infinity | Smoking: Strong | Alcohol: Critical | Drugs: No | Vulgarity: Mild Traumatizing Factor: Critical